Yes, a larger wheel frame on your current boot would make a fairly large difference... but you're even more "stuck" in 165mm mount since you'll have even more 165mm mount equipment unless the frame you get is dual mount (which is even less common.) It'll be a bigger jump in speed and performance to go to the SEBA Marathon 110. But, like what is frustrating for many of us, we don't always get to try them before we buy. And the same for the next step of a lower cut speed boot.

But no one can tell you neither what's more important for you nor how any particular boot is going to fit or perform for you.

Great answers, huh?

To put it in perspective, though, Richard Nett, the guy that runs NettRacing got pretty disenchanted with speed boots in general. He was having issues with ankle strength since he wasn't training as much as he used to. Some people don't have as much of this issue, but in the end, he was an wasn't enjoying skating as much. He got a hold of the SEBA boots and even though he had less direct control, he wasn't fighting the pain and strain, so he could skate with less fatigue and the control issues were less of an issue since he wasn't fighting the pain that was preventing him from having the form he wanted. So, it was a trade off, avoiding pain won on its own merits, but he also noticed his lap times were better as well, plus he wasn't as fatigued afterwards.

I think this, AZRoadRunner's and shesk8's responses have all helped me form an idea. For me, having the snug, heat mouldableness with a mid cuff boot is probably the best answer. I'm going to go with the SEBA Marathon 110s.

Now that I've sorted that, the next question: size? Measured my feet last night, and my longest foot is 280mm, which, based on THIS chart, is 1mm shy of the size 44 boot (the TriX boot, as far as I can tell is what is on the Marathon setup? Please correct me if I am wrong). In normal shoes, I am a 10.5 or 11 US, depending on the shoe. Should I go 44 or 45 to be safe?

Matguy- the Seba Marathon is not designed as 'heatmoldable' (meaning there is not a sandwich layer of thermo plastic material between layers of carbon fiber to help form fit the boot) ...at least not yet. We've suggest this idea for future version of this boot, along with a few other ideas to make this an over-the-top boot choice.

That said, I heated my Marathon boots (as I did my iGors) to help accelerate break-in period, and in particular push in the tops in snugly around my ankles. To be able to form fit the heel and achilles areas would be ideal plus's for this boot. Though, in defense of the current model marathon boots, they fit pretty darn well right out of the box.

re: 110 vs 100, the 100's make it a little more easier to maneuver or steer the skates. whereas 110's feel a bit sluggish and can feel this in the stroke/cadence. For myself, personally 100's(12.8" frame) is perfect, as are the 3x110's(11.2" frame) I set up on this boot. Both frames feel very equated in their steering and maneuverability.

Matguy- the Seba Marathon is not designed as 'heatmoldable' (meaning there is not a sandwich layer of thermo plastic material between layers of carbon fiber to help form fit the boot) ...at least not yet. We've suggest this idea for future version of this boot, along with a few other ideas to make this an over-the-top boot choice.

That said, I heated my Marathon boots (as I did my iGors) to help accelerate break-in period, and in particular push in the tops in snugly around my ankles. To be able to form fit the heel and achilles areas would be ideal plus's for this boot. Though, in defense of the current model marathon boots, they fit pretty darn well right out of the box.

re: 110 vs 100, the 100's make it a little more easier to maneuver or steer the skates. whereas 110's feel a bit sluggish and can feel this in the stroke/cadence. For myself, personally 100's(12.8" frame) is perfect, as are the 3x110's(11.2" frame) I set up on this boot. Both frames feel very equated in their steering and maneuverability.

Seba Marathon boot is much too heavy and clunky, the uppers clang together when skating, plus for me it lacked heel hold. Had the heel hold not been so bad I would've kept them and stripped them down as much as possible to reduce weight. The potential is there for Seba to make a great marathon boot if they'd only take a serious look at what K2 got right with the Radical Pro and Mod 125. K2 Radical Boa was a disaster, stay away from them.
Don't waste your time with Powerslide Grand Prix and Marathon skates, they have great heel hold which will skin you alive and have terrible forward lean.
Bont Semi-Race, downright awful, you'll grow to hate them! The innards break down in no time, about half way into the skating season and you will experience new blisters and little lumps forming on your feet every other skate session. Plus there is zero arch support, despite what Bont will have you believe, they are made for the Asian market, flat feet!
Rollerblade Tempest marathon/rec skates, too sloppy, will continue to break down into a soft unsupportive mess.
Rollerblade Powerblade 125, beautiful skate, soft comfy low cut race boot, just too much skate for you. Must develop ankle strength and technique before thinking about them. https://www.rollerblade.com/products...blade-125-3wd/

I had the Marathon and the carbon-fiberglass (version) Grand Prix, the shell is not heat moldable.

@shesk8, could you please use your industry insider influence to push Seba toward making the marathon skate boot a lighter and more performance oriented "boot only option" while maintaining the current last which is shaped for actual feet and not some screwballs idea of how an inline skate should fit a masochist skater i.e., reference to the old Mogema and Verducci boots

...For example Luigino Striker 3x110 (the only pic I found in the web)
pic from nettracing.com

Weight of the boot will be still there but comfort will stay with you too

Hi all!

Sorry for the long absence, I was having real difficulty getting anywhere with the Seba Marathon skates.I was talking to someone from the skateNow shop, but they didn't have any in stock. I was keen to hear from them, as they were much cheaper than anywhere else, even with the exchange rate. After waiting about three months, I contacted them again without response. So I decided to look elsewhere.

Came across Bayside Blades in Melbourne. They stocked the Marathons, but the cost is higher (exchange rate and shipping from overseas), but at least I heard back from someone.

Massive thanks go to Cuong Huynh for all the info and questions he asked! He helped put together a kit for me, based on the questions. I have to say, his explanation of the pros and cons of the different types of skates and wanting to know more detail about how and where I skate really helped piece together which kit to buy.

Amazingly, I purchased these on a Friday, and Cuong was able to get them out the same day! I thought that perhaps they would arrive here on a Tuesday, so I wasn't really expecting them to be here, but by sheer luck, there was a pick up notice in my letterbox!

I raced over to the post office and picked them up and boy, are they a nice looking set. I had a bit of trouble understanding how to release the latch, but a quick google search showed me how. Slipped them on and I could tell straight away they definitely wouldn't be as comfortable, as the padding isn't as thick as the FRX boot.

I looked outside and the weather was perfect, so I decided to go out for my first run! I packed up my gear and drove down; enduring the great peak traffic rush. I got down to the beach and pulled on the boots, immediately noticing that they were not as soft as the FRX boots. I also noticed just how much higher I was off the ground! I'm glad that I'm only at 110mm because it was clear that I was going to have to control the speed much more than I usually do; especially with fresh clean bearings.

I took the first couple of kms quite leisurely; enjoying how well they rolled. I was able to cruise with little effort once I had a bit of speed going. I started on the path first, and I definitely didn't notice the paving joints as much as I would have with the 80mm wheels. I then switched to the road (taking care when stepping down) and wow, it was smooth as ice. It just rolled and rolled.

The next thing I noticed was how much more my calves and ankles had to work. I definitely need to change my style to push more back rather than at a diagonal, as the lower cut causes my ankles to flex inward. I had my knees bent more than usual to get used to centering my weight, so I notice the ankle movement much more than if I take a more upright stance. An added bonus of the longer frame is that even if your weight shifts slightly to the back, it's easier to correct and there's much less chance of falling. Extra bonus.

As I got to the bituminised section of the path, I took a more upright stance and noticed how smooth the roll was and how effortless it was to push (definitely can see how people get hooked into ice skating).

As I returned to my car, I had a look out at the horizon and thought, you know, I reckon I could get ONE more lap in before it gets too dark...this time I went harder and got my speed up. I stuck mainly to the road this time, to test how stable the skates were. Even when I started to pick up speed, there was no speed wobble; I was able to keep my arms behind my back and get into a lower position to really push. Now I want to find out how fast I can really go!

The manoeuvrability is less than the FRX boots, but not by much. It may have more to do with the fact that I was slightly apprehensive on them as I have no idea what the limits are in terms of turning at this point. With the supplied laces, I could only get them to the second to top lace holes, so there was a bit more play in the ankle as I couldn't lace all the way up. I have a feeling when I switch the laces out and I get used to them a bit more, the manoeuvrability will be the same (if not more) than the FRXs, purely due to the length of the frame providing more surface area so I can turn harder at speed.

At the end of my run, my feet had settled in the boots and the pain that I felt initially due to the reduced padding had subsided, however, definitely not as comfortable as the FRXs.

Unfortunately, by the time I was returning to the car, the sun had really dropped, making visibility not so great. I decided to stick mainly to the road to avoid the possibility of hitting stray rocks and vegetation on the path. As it was close to 6, the roads were a bit busier, so I had to switch back to the path and on one of these switches, I encountered a rock which jarred my foot into the kerb, causing me to tumble. A bit of road rash later, I was back up on my feet and made my way (gingerly) to the car.

All in all, they are amazing. The increased roll was probably the most noticeable upgrade; it is just an effortless cruise once you have the speed, the friction just isn't there. I enjoy the increased height of the 110 mm wheels, as it makes me more visible (and intimidating) so people are less likely to do something stupid (e.g. walk across the path/road in front of me). I will definitely need to work on my technique in these new skates and I will have to work on my stops, as the increased roll means my speed is much faster (my average speed now is almost the same as my top speed on the FRXs) so I need to be able to stop in a limited distance to avoid pombies (a.k.a. pedestrian zombies) and uncontrolled dogs.

Thank you all for the assistance; that first roll was as good as my first few rolls when I started skating about 4 years ago!